Islamabad: The Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, on Friday announced that the Markhor and other wild goats and sheep that thrive in the population in the northern region of the country are world leaders in community conservation.
Prime Minister’s Coordinator, Ghulam Qadir Shah, Inspector General, Department of Forestry, Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, said in a press conference on the occasion of International Markhor Day that the country and other countries in the world celebrate the national animal. country At the request of the United Nations, to increase awareness of the importance of conservation in the environment.
Romina Khurshid said that the UN General Assembly approved the decision to celebrate the global Markhor Day on May 2, which is an important member of the natural ecosystem that is threatened by the irresponsible attitude of mankind and anthropogenic activities.
The mountainous region of the country, especially Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Kohistan, Swat, Dir and Balochistan, is home to more than a dozen wild goats and sheep, including Ibex, Markhor, Urial, Himalayan Gorel, Blue Sheep and Markopolo Sheep. added
“Markhor is an interesting and attractive wild pig that lives in the highlands and is not only an important part of the natural food chain, but also a major source of income for local people,” he said.
He said that sport hunting, intended for conservation through trophy hunting, has been criticized by the public, but it is a full conservation program under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“In this program, only 12 of the 4,500 numbers in our mountains were selected, most of them elderly, for trophy hunting, and most of the results were used to improve breeding places and habitats,” said Romina Hursheed Alam.
In his address to the world on this occasion, the Coordinator Prime Minister said that he is proud of the commitment of the Government of Pakistan, the people of Pakistan, public and private organizations, forest and wildlife experts, especially Markhor, to ensure this issue. . Conservation of biodiversity and wildlife.
He also said that the country welcomes the whole world to learn from its experience in this field and will share its knowledge with other countries that want to learn. He prayed fervently for progress and prosperity in his efforts to conserve wildlife, forests and other sectors of the country.
IG Forest, Ghulam Qadir Shah, in his speech, said that the people of Markhor have witnessed the growth of social responsibility. Shah added that information related to snake-horned wild goats is available at the ministry.
However, he said, there is a certain limit in the area that includes other wild animals. “In the 1990s, the Markhor population declined significantly, with 18% of Pakistan’s Markhor and tiger population. There are about 3000-5000 Markhors in Pakistan.
In 2000, the trophy hunting policy allowed hunting 6 and then 12 Markhor in one season, the hunting quota was extended to the international level, “said Shah. Last year, the most expensive hunting license was sold for US $ 186,000, 20 100. % reported to the department of wildlife and recreation society.
